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Monday, March 30, 2009

Tourtiere or French Canadian Pork Pie

The other day T. and I were running errands and talking about food and things that I haven’t made in a while. He mentioned Pork Pie. This has to be one of our favorite meals. Funny though, it’s been well over a year since i have made it. Don’t you hate when that happens???

This is one of those incredibly fast and simple meals that really comes together in no time at all.

I usually make my own pie crust but this time I was kind of tired so I used store bought. Should have made my own…it was just a little too sweet to go with the savory pie. Lesson learned!

1. Prepare pastry: Cut cold shortening into cubes. Place butter/shortening in food processor with flour and salt. Pulse a few times. 2. Dump flour mixture out into a bowl and start adding water a tbsp at a time until mixture forms a dough that will hold together. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. 3. Make filling: In a non-stick skillet with a cover, cook pork, breaking up the larger chunks. 4. Add onion, celery, garlic and cook until the onions are tender. 5. Add salt, savory, pepper, allspice, bay leaf and water. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove lid and simmer 5 more minutes until most of the water is gone (it should still be quite moist). 6. Add mashed potato and remove bay leaf. 7. Roll out pastry (TIP: I roll my pastry out between two sheets of plastic wrap, when it is the right size, peel one sheet away and use the other to pick up the pastry and flip it over into the pie plate). Fill with meat mixture, cover with second half of pastry and seal edges. Cut a few vents in the top. 8. Brush top with a mixture of egg yolk and milk. 9. Bake at 425F for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

Youngest daughter was in a skating recital over the weekend. She absolutely nailed it...clever little girl!

With so much new food and experiments in the kitchen I many times don't make the same meal twice in over a year (only our favorites are repeated over and over) so you are not the only one that doesn't cook a favorite in over a year :-p But isn't it exciting to always eat something new? I love the looks of this pork pie, but I love pork so that helps :D

My Dad was French Canadian and his family taught my Mom how to make this pie. We usually had it just for special celebrations. My Mom used lard in her pie crust and a small dash of cinnamon in her seasonings. I haven't made it myself for years......think it is time I tried again!